Radishes in the Garden

Updated on April 30, 2016

Health Benefits of Radishes

Health benefits of radishes

The radish originally came from Southeast Asia. They have been suggested for use in controlling blood pressure, urinary problems, constipation and many other ailments. Radishes contain vitamin C, which is necessary to support the immune system. They also contain fiber that helps the body in maintaining the digestive tract. They are also said to be helpful in aiding digestion, preventing viral infections, and to help eliminate toxins from the body.

Varieties of radishes

There are several different types of radishes. They come in many shapes such as round, long, thick or thin. Radishes also come in an assortment of colors that range from red to even black. Daikon radishes are long and white. It is used in Chinese food, salads or pickled. Black Spanish Winter radishes are known for their hardiness and have been around for ages. They are long, like the Daikon. However, they are thicker, and black. Cherry Belle radishes are commonly found in grocery stores and used in salads. Other types include Sparkler, French Breakfast, Black Spanish Round, and Easter Egg. They can be very spicy or mild, depending on the type.

Radish

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How to cook radish greens

Parts of radishes used

The radish is one of those types of vegetables that every part can be used. The radish or root of the plant can be used for many different dishes or eaten just raw. Many people enjoy pickled radishes. It can be added to salads and stir-fried to add flavor and texture. They can be added to many dishes to add a little flavor. They can be roasted or fried, used in soups, meat dishes, vegetables or pasta.

The leaves can be eaten raw by themselves or added to soups and salads. They have a flavor very similar to the radish itself. The seed pods that appear in the warmer part of the season can also be eaten. They can be eaten raw in salads or used with other plated vegetables with dip. When cooked, they lose some of the heat. The longer they cook, the more mild they get. This is helpful for those who many not be impressed with the strong flavor of raw radishes. Many Asian cultures will add these to other vegetables and fry them.

Radish seedpods

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Radish flowers

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Growing radishes in containers

Planting and growing radishes

Radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to choose to grow. They grow in almost any soil or condition possible. The best soil is a well-composted soft soil with lots of organic matter. They grow well in cooler weather and are often the first crop people plant after a long winter because they reach maturity quicker than most types of vegetables. They don't require much space. This makes it easy to grow them in containers, window boxes or pots.

Soil that is hard-packed will not grow a good root system. The tops will grow, but there will either be no radishes or they will be small. Keep soil wet, but not waterlogged for best results. They need plenty of sunlight to produce quality radishes. Too much shade will produce larger leaves but smaller radishes.

The temperature is also a factor in raising radishes. They will grow even in hot summer weather. However, at higher temperatures these will go to seed quickly, producing plenty of seed pods in just a short time.

How to grow radishes

Summary

Radishes are a great vegetable for any type of garden. The vegetable is extremely versatile and is great for adding flavor and color to many different dishes. Children will find this an excellent vegetable to grow. It grows fast and will help keep them interested in gardening. Radishes are easy to grown on a farm or in an apartment with very little space.